"Conventional wisdom has it that management is not a popularity contest.... I contend, however, that all things being equal, we will work harder and more effectively for people we like. And we will like them in direct proportion to how they make us feel." (Irwin Federman)
For those of us in education, consider inserting "teaching" in place of "management." In over 20 years of Christian education I have heard educators say “students don’t need to like me in order to learn.” While we are not in education in order for students to like us, we can connect better with them if they feel we respect them and value them as a learner. Even more so if they like us.
Education is about making a connection with the student rather than just pouring out information hoping some of it will sink in. There will always be students that rub us the wrong way and test our patience. But as they are, some of us once were.
May God grant us the ability to change the students that can be changed, the patience to endure those who struggle, and the wisdom to do no harm.
Students are as human as their teachers.
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